Whether you're trying to track down a bad driver or someone who keeps leaving their car outside your house, you can often find out who they are and how to contact them from their license plate number and a simple Google search. Security expert Brandon Gregg explains:

You would be surprised that even license plate information can be found online. An old trick I use to use back in the day was searching Government Smog check sites for the plate. Not only would they say if the car passed or not, often the website would list the smog shop that serviced the car or VIN # of the car. Then I would search on the VIN # for more details and/or ask the smog shop for the vehicle owner's information.

If that doesn't work, Brandon also notes that there are a few other options available to you. While it's unlikely you'll be able to get the information covertly, you can use a Request for Record Information (INF 70) form to identify a car owner. Additionally, some states (like my home state of Minnesota allow you to go to a simple database site and pay a small fee. TLO is one example and will get you the make, model, and color of the vehicle as well.

Using these techniques is a small invasion of a person's privacy, but it's always good to know what kind of information a motivated person could dig up about you. (Make sure you have a good reason for doing so before you start identifying license plates left and right.)